The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-21
THE MISSOURI DELUGE.
No Improvement in the Stuation-Hard
ships to Which the Settlers Are Exposed

BISMARCK, D. T., March 20.-The Missouri
river is still on the rampage The Buford
rise reached this point to-day and the water is
flowing over the prairie at greater depth and
more terrific speed than ever The stream has
risen foot here to-day, which rise is equal to
rise of over twenty feet in the upper river as
the water is spreading out over stretch of
country six miles vide The fearful blizzard of
yesterday abated last evening and left over six
inches of snow throughout the Northwest. This
will add to the food, and as the sun has come
out warm to-day, the tributaries of the Missouri
are already growing from the melting snow.
The rescuing parties that made the wonderful
journey into the lowlands yesterday and saved
the lives Of six men and one woman who were
perched upon the tops of houses and in the trees,
were the heroes of the day.
The river is still rising tonight an inch an
hour. having already passed the high-water
mark of the memorable food Of 1881 All
the lowlands are now inundated. The
only houses flooded on the Bismarck side
are few squatters' huts. From the bluffs one
can see huge cakes of ice up near the streets of
Mandan. The only way of communication be-
tween the towns is via Cheyenne and Ogden.
The Boston syndicate property, including -four
ing-mill and fifty residences, elevator
shops and everything south of the track, is sub
merged.
A telegram from Fort Lincoln yesterday an
nounced that people could be seen from that
point standing hay-stacks and in trees and
that unless they were rescued they would perish
in the food It is believed that the people res
cued are the ones referred to in the Lincoln dis
patch although many claim that the country
directly opposite the fort is settled, and numer-
inhabitants of the flooded district are still in
danger, if not swept away.
A report also comes from the north to the
effect that at Painted Woods the settlers have
been in trees and on hay-stacks for two days
and relief parties have been sent to that point
The report that Superintendent Graham, of
the Northern Pacific railroad, had been drowned
is denied. It is learned that the runor grew out
of his attempt to come to Bismarck on Friday
evening.
The gorge at Sibley island remains firm, and
all efforts to remove it vain. If the present
state of affairs should remain a week the Mis-
souri, would have a permanent channel cut
the country at least two miles east of its
old course. The ice is flowing freely to-day and
is being lodged in blocks of from a rod to quar-
ter of mile in length on the farms and meadow
lands of the settlers. The Northern Pacific
trestle has not been repaired, and it is imposei-
BILE for the company to work upon the structure
on account of the flowing ice
So rapidly did the food rise at Painted Woods
that two families lincuding 1--WE children,
started to pack their household goods preparato
~ to moving back from the stream, yesterday
morning Their houses we're located on low
land anG before they got ready to start the water
was within six feet of their houses. They then
started, but were compelled to go through low
land quarter of mile before they could reach
the buttes their houses being on the highest
spot in tho locality. No sooner did the water
reach that height than it swept down into the
low land, and for over quarter of mile the
horror stricken people we're pursued by the rush
ing waters. Before they reached the highland
they were overtaken, and for the last four rods
| were compelled to wade through three feet Of
water one of the children being carried lorg
| distance
Another train load Of passengers arrived from
| the East to day. and will be compelled to remain
here until it is possible to cross the Missouri
AS the ice is flowing freely, it is believed that
| the river will be free of ice tomorrow. and the
Northern Pacific will establish a transfer line of
| boats.
A telegram from Mandan says: 1.-The report
| concerning inundation of Manden is utterly
! false. No water has entered tn, streets from
| the Missouri Heart rivers, but anxiety pre-
walls among the Mandan inhabitants for the safety
! of the poor people living on the lowlands near
| Bismarck. Business is going on as usual The
| only damage done has been to the trestle- work
of the bridge, and to the track two miles east of
Maa6an There is no telegraph communication
| between Mandan and Bismarck. A party will
crcss The submerged lowlands on the ice to-mor-
|